North Newton declares Bethel College Month

Monday, September 24th, 2012

NORTH NEWTON, KAN – North Newton has declared October “Bethel College Month.”

John Torline, North Newton city administrator, on Sept. 19 sent to the office of Bethel President Perry White the proclamation passed by the North Newton City Council at its Sept. 10 meeting and signed by North Newton Mayor Ron Braun.

The proclamation was made in honor of the college’s 125th anniversary. It was chartered in May 1887, with the cornerstone for the college’s first, still-standing building, the Administration Building, laid in early October of that year.

There will be special anniversary events throughout the 2012-13 school year, but the bulk of them will occur during Fall Festival, Oct. 10-14.

“This is indeed a great year to celebrate the rich history of Bethel College, Bethel’s achievements and the strong and caring Bethel community,” White said.

The proclamation reads, in its entirety:

WHEREAS, Bethel College, the preeminent college on the prairie, was founded in 1887 and

WHEREAS, the growth and prosperity of Bethel College has enhanced the growth and prosperity of the larger Newton/North Newton community, and

WHEREAS, Bethel College continues to provide excellence in advanced education including an impressive record of training individuals who provide leadership in local, state, national and international affairs, and

WHEREAS, Bethel College has been ranked at No. 4 of 352 colleges in the “Washington Monthly” list of “Best Baccalaureate Colleges 2012-13,” and

WHEREAS, the continuing prosperity and growth of Bethel College is the very best form of economic development by providing a non-polluting collegial environment with largely external revenue sources, and

WHEREAS, Bethel is celebrating its 125th anniversary of providing the above described qualities,

NOW, THEREFORE, LET IT BE RESOLVED by the City of North Newton, Kansas, that October 2012 is hereby proclaimed as Bethel College Month.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all citizens in the greater Newton/North Newton area are encouraged to pause and reflect on this institution that has so enriched our lives.

Bethel College is the only private college in Kansas listed in the 2012-13 Forbes.com analysis of premier colleges and universities in the United States and ranks in the top five “Best Baccalaureate Colleges” in the Washington Monthly annual college guide for 2012-13. The four-year liberal arts college is affiliated with Mennonite Church USA. For more information, see www.bethelks.edu.